Reuben A. Torrey (1856-1928), Congregational minister, evangelist and fundamentalist educator, was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Educated at Yale and Yale Divinity School Torrey served as a minister for several years before answering a call from Dwight Moody to become the superintendant of what would later be known as the Moody Bible Institute.

Beginning in 1900 Torrey pursued an evangelistic ministry and embarked on two worldwide tours (1902-05, 1906-11). While in London he preached at the Royal Albert Hall for several months, which reportedly led to the conversion of some seventeen thousand people. Upon completion of his second worldwide tour he became the dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles in 1912. Torrey edited forty books, including The Fundamentals (1910-15), and helped found several organizations and associations aimed at upholding what he believed were the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith. The remaining years of his life were spent teaching, writing, and preaching.

For further reading see George M. Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2006).